Disk storage case

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a disc storage case adapted to store a hard case type floppy disc used for a personal computer, a word processor and the like, and a minidisc (MD), etc. used for musical minicomponents and the like. The disc storage case according to the present invention is formed by connecting together in one body two substantially triangular case members, each of which has an opened portion and plural partition plates, at one end portion of each thereof so that the case members can be opened and closed freely.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a disc storage case adapted to store ahard case type floppy disc used for a personal computer, a wordprocessor and the like, and a minidisc (MD), etc. used for musicalminicomponents and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

[0002] The known storage case of this kind include a storage caseprovided with plural disc storage chambers formed by dividing theinterior of the cover-carrying storage case by partition plates, and astorage case having case members capable of being opened and closed likea French door, and adapted to store discs so that the discs in one casemember alternate with those in the other when the case members areclosed.

[0003] Although the known partition-carrying disc storage case has anadvantage of its capability of storing plural discs in a space ofpredetermined dimensions, it has a narrow space between disc storagechambers, so that a label pasted on each stored disc and showing thecontent of information stored in the disc cannot be read from theoutside. Therefore, it takes much time to take out an object disc whenthe disc is used, from the storage case. The difficulty in taking out adisc from the storage case can be eliminated by increasing the width ofthe space between the disc storage chambers. However, when thisdifficulty is dealt with by this method, the number of discs capable ofbeing stored in a space of predetermined dimensions decreases.

[0004] A known French door-like disc storage case is shown inperspective in, for example, FIG. 5. In this disc storage case, storagechambers 46 are formed by providing partition plates 44 and front wallsurfaces 48 in a case member 42. The front wall surfaces 48 are notjoined to those of adjacent storage chambers, i.e., non-storage-chamberspaces are formed among adjacent storage chambers. In the other casemember 56, storage chambers are formed similarly. The storage chambersare arranged so that the storage chambers in one case member alternatein amutually superposed state with those in the other when the casemembers are closed. The respective case members are joined together byhook members 52, 54 and a hinge 50, and the portions of the case members42, 56 which are in the vicinity of bottom portions thereof are used asfulcrums via which the case members are turned to be opened or closed.Accordingly, in order to close the case members, they are moved via thehinge 50 as a fulcrum, so that the front wall surfaces 48 of the storagechambers of one case member fit in non-storage-chamber spaces 58 amongthe storage chambers of the other. The discs in the storage chambers arestored so as not to project therefrom, owing to the front wall surfaces48. Since the front wall surfaces 48 in one case member are formed sothat they fit in the non-storage-chamber spaces 58 among the storagechambers of the other, the front wall surfaces 48 need to be providedfor the respective storage chambers. Namely, the front wall surfaces 48cannot be continuously provided over plural storage chambers, so thatthe construction of this disc storage case becomes complicated.

[0005] Thus, in the French door-like disc storage case, improvementshave been made on the difficulty in taking out a disc therefrom,easiness of identifying of information shown on the surface of a labeland the number of discs capable of being stored. However, this discstorage case has a complicated construction. Namely, the front wallsurfaces of the storage chambers are provided independently of oneanother, and a case member-connecting method using a combination of thehook members and hinge is employed. Under the circumstances, thedevelopment of a disc storage case having storage chambers of a simplerconstruction is expected.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of theabove-mentioned circumstances, and provides a disc storage case formedby connecting together in one body two substantially triangular casemembers, each of which has an opened portion and plural partitionplates, at one end portion of each thereof so that the case members canbe opened and closed freely. It is preferable that the disc storage casebe provided with disc storage chambers, each of which is formed bysubstantially triangular partition plates arranged at predeterminedintervals, and a continuous front wall surface formed at a front side ofthe partition plates, in such a manner that, when these storage casemembers are closed, the disc storage chambers in one storage case memberalternate in a superposed state with those in the other; and that anintegral connecting portion of a plastic be formed at upper end sectionsof the front wall surfaces so that the storage case members can beopened and closed freely via the connecting portion as a fulcrum. Thisdisc storage case may also be formed so that the storage case beprovided with disc storage chambers, each of which is formed bysubstantially triangular partition plates arranged at predeterminedintervals, and a continuous front wall surface formed at front sideportions of the partition plates, in such a manner that, when thesestorage case members are closed, the disc storage chambers in onestorage case member alternate in a mutually superposed state with thosein the other; and that an integral connecting portion to which a hingeis fixed is formed at upper end sections of the front wall surfaces sothat the storage case members can be opened and closed freely via theconnecting portion as a fulcrum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic construction ofan embodiment of the disc storage case according to the presentinvention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the condition of the discstorage case opened;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of disc storagechambers of the disc storage case opened;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the condition of the casewith discs stored therein; and

[0011]FIG. 5 is a perspective showing a related art disc storage case.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of the disc storage case according to the presentinvention will now be described in detail with reference to the attacheddrawings in which the same reference numerals are added to the sameconstituent parts.

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic construction ofan embodiment of the disc storage case 10 according to the presentinvention. The disc storage case 10 is formed by hinging 16 twosubstantially triangular case members 12, 14, each of which has anopened portion and plural partition plates, at one end portion of eachof their respective front wall surfaces 18, 20, and thereby connectedtogether in one body so that the case members can be opened and closedfreely. The triangular case members 12, 14 combined are formed to arectangular column-like structure opened at their diagonal surfaceportions and having front wall surfaces 18, 20. FIG. 1 shows a closedcondition of the case members 12, 14.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an opened condition of thestorage case 10. The triangular case member 14 is provided with pluralpartition plates 24, and disc storage chambers 22 formed alternatelywith non-storage-chamber spaces. The other triangular case member 12 isalso provided with plural partition plates 26 in substantially the samemanner, and disc storage chambers 28 alternately withnon-storage-chamber spaces. At the front side of the storage chambers,front wall surfaces 20, 18 are provided so as to extend substantiallyvertically. The partition plates 24, 26 are provided with semicircularrecesses and projections 30, 32 alternately so that the recesses andprojections are not superposed on each other when the case members areclosed. At opposed end portions of the front wall surfaces, a hinge 16is formed to an integral construction out of a plastic, and the two casemembers become able to be opened and closed freely via the hinge 16 as afulcrum. Owing to this arrangement, the construction of the storagechambers becomes simple.

[0015]FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the storage chambers with thestorage case members opened. The disc storage chambers 22 of the casemember 14 are provided alternately with non-storage-chamber spaces. Thestorage chambers 28 of the case member 12 are also provided alternatelywith non-storage-chamber spaces. The width of the storage chambersdefined by the partition plates 24, 26 is set close to that of discs tobe stored therein. The storage chambers 22 are arranged so that they arepositioned in the non-storage-chamber spaces which adjoin the storagechambers 28 when the case members 12, 14 are closed.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the condition of discsstored in a storage case opened. The discs 34 stored in storage chambersin the case member 14 and those 36 stored in storage chambers in thecase member 12 have a mutually staggered relation. The discs 34 arestored without causing the same to project from the storage chamberseven when the case members are opened and closed, owing to a front wallsurface 38 of the storage chambers opposed to a front wall surface 20.Similarly, the discs 36 are stored without causing the same to projectfrom a front wall surface 40.

[0017] The disc storage case according to the present invention is madeby forming two substantially triangular case members having openedportions and plural partition plates, and connecting these case memberstogether in one body at one end portion of each thereof so that the casemembers can be opened and closed freely; and provided with disc storagechambers formed of substantially triangular partition plates provided atpredetermined intervals, and continuous front wall surfaces extending atthe front side portions of the partition plates, in such a manner thatthe disc storage chambers in one case member alternate in a superposedstate with those in the other when the case members are closed. Anintegral connecting portion formed continuously out of a plastic isprovided at upper end portions of the front wall surfaces so that thecase members can be opened and closed via the connecting portion as afulcrum. Owing to this arrangement, improvements have been madeconcerning the easiness of handling the discs, the identifying of theinformation shown on the surfaces of the labels pasted on the discs, andthe number of discs capable of being stored in the case. Furthermore,the construction of the storage chambers becomes simple, and themanufacturing of the disc storage case easy.

1. A disc storage case characterized in that the case is formed by connecting together in one body two substantially triangular case members, each of which has an opened portion and plural partition plates, at their respective one end portion so that the case members can be opened and closed freely.
 2. A disc storage case according to claim 1, wherein the case is provided with disc storage chambers formed of substantially triangular partition plates provided at predetermined intervals, and continuous front wall surfaces provided at front surface portions of the partition plates; and formed so that the disc storage chambers of one case member alternate in a superposed state on those of the other when the case members are closed, a continuous integral connecting portion of a plastic being formed at upper end portions of the front wall surfaces, whereby the case members can be opened and closed freely via the connecting portion as a fulcrum.
 3. A disc storage case according to claim 1, wherein the case is provided with disc storage chambers formed of substantially triangular partition plates provided at predetermined intervals, and continuous front wall surfaces provided at front surface portions of the partition plates; and formed so that the disc storage chambers of one case member alternate in a superposed state with those of the other when the case members are closed, a hinge-carrying continuous integral connecting portion being formed at upper end portions of the front wall surfaces, whereby the case members can be opened and closed freely via the connecting portion as a fulcrum. 